HOLY LAND, org. As children and youth give him their moving testimonies about their struggles as a result of disability and serious illness, testimonies filled with pain, hope and love, Francis takes his pectoral cross in his hands. That cross that is a symbol of the Good Shepherd carrying the lamb on his shoulders. The Shepherd of the world hands all of this pain that surrounds him in the beautiful Latin Church in Bethany beyond the Jordan to the Good Shepherd. In the refugees and the disabled youngsters, Francis sees the face of Jesus and his life that restores dignity and gives salvation. A gesture that wordlessly summarises everything he said minutes earlier in his third speech of his pilgrimage of peace to the Holy Land.
Pope Francis has shown his sensitivity for the difficult situation facing people affected by the cruel situations in the world, expressing firstly his special interest in meeting those “who had to leave your homes and your country as a result of violence and conflict. Here in Jordan you have found welcome and refuge” and meet the “dear young people who bear the burden of physical disabilities.”
Where the heavens opened
After celebrating Holy Mass at the Amman International Stadium, Francis drove some 50 kilometres to Bethany beyond the Jordan, where St. John the Baptist worked and the stage for Jesus’ life. Bethany is now below ground and its exact location remains unknown. Perhaps it is 200 metres in front of hill of the prophet Elisha climbed but archaeological excavations have not been done. The area, called “Wadi Al Kharrar” (Melodious Valley), takes its name from the sound of the waters of the Jordan. The area is 350m below the water level of the Mediterranean, a few kilometres from the point where the river widens and flows into the Dead Sea, the “sea of salt” in the Old Testament and the “Sea of Lot” in the Arab manuscripts.
On his arrival, Pope Francis was welcomed by King Abdullah II who was waiting for him at the entrance of the Latin Church in Bethany beyond the Jordan and from there headed to the place of the Baptism, walking to the banks of the River Jordan to pray in silence for a few minutes and to bless the water. Afterwards, he entered the temple that has been improvised as a private sacristy. The church is still in construction and its foundation stone was blessed by Benedict XVI during his visit to the place of the Baptism on 10 May 2009.
The humility of Jesus
Recalling Jesus’ baptism in this place, the Holy Father emphasized the humility of Jesus who, sharing the human condition, came here to be baptised and “by his love he restored our dignity and brought us salvation.” In this context, the Bishop of Rome expressed his affliction for the “tragedies and suffering of our times, particularly those caused by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.” His thoughts went first to Syria, rent by three years of fratricidal war and its numerous victims: a drama that has forced, he recalled, millions of people to become refugees and immigrate to other countries. The pilgrim Pope’s words then went directly to the authorities and people of Jordan, thanking them for their generous welcome of “the immense number of refugees from Syria and Iraq,” and all those who provide assistance and solidarity, as well as the works of charity carried out by Church institutions who “assist the needy regardless of their religious beliefs, ethnic origin or politics, in this way they reveal the radiant face of Jesus, full of kindness and love.”
The Bishop of Rome urged the international community not to “not to leave Jordan alone in the task of meeting the humanitarian emergency” but to continue and increase its support and help. He renewed his calls for peace in Syria, insisting that “all parties abandon the attempt to resolve issues by the use of arms and return to negotiations,” and saying that dialogue and a political solution is the only solution.
Francis also invited the youth to join him in praying for peace and to collaborate in building a society that respects the weakest and to be “signs of hope.”
Full text of Pope Francis’ speech
Distinguished Authorities,
Your Eminences, Excellencies,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As part of my pilgrimage I have greatly desired to meet with you who have had to leave your homes and your country as a result of violence and conflict. Here in Jordan you have found welcome and refuge. I have wanted also to meet with you, dear young people who bear the burden of physical disabilities.
The place where we are meeting commemorates Jesus’ baptism. Coming here to the Jordan to be baptized by John, Jesus showed his humility and his participation in our human condition. He stooped down to us and by his love he restored our dignity and brought us salvation. Jesus’ humility never fails to move us, the fact that he bends down to wounded humanity in order to heal us: he bends down to heal all our wounds! For our part, we are profoundly affected by the tragedies and suffering of our times, particularly those caused by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. I think particularly of our beloved Syria, rent by nearly three years of civil strife which has led to countless deaths and forced millions to flee and seek exile in other countries. All of us want peace! But as we observe this tragic conflict, seeing these wounds, seeing so many people who have left their homeland, forced to do so, I ask myself: who is selling arms to these people to make war? Behold the root of evil! Hatred and financial greed in the manufacturing and sale of arms. This should make us think about who is responsible for this situation, for providing arms to those in conflict and thereby sustaining such conflict. Let us think about this and with sincere hearts let us call upon these poor criminals to change their ways.
I thank the Jordanian authorities and people for the generous welcome they have extended to the immense number of refugees from Syria and Iraq. I also thank all those who offer them assistance and solidarity. I think too of the charitable work undertaken by Church institutions such as Caritas Jordan and others, who assist the needy regardless of their religious beliefs, ethnic origin or politics; in this way they reveal the radiant face of Jesus, full of kindness and love. May the Almighty and Merciful God bless all of you and every effort you make to alleviate the sufferings caused by war!
I urge the international community not to leave Jordan, who is so welcoming and so courageous, alone in the task of meeting the humanitarian emergency caused by the arrival of so great a number of refugees, but to continue and even increase its support and assistance. I renew my heartfelt appeal for peace in Syria. May the violence cease and may humanitarian law be respected, thus ensuring much needed assistance to those who are suffering! May all parties abandon the attempt to resolve issues by the use of arms and return to negotiations. A solution will only be found through dialogue and restraint, through compassion for those who suffer, through the search for a political solution and through a sense of fraternal responsibility.
Dear young people, I ask you to join me in praying for peace. You can do this by offering your daily efforts and struggles to God; in this way your prayer will become particularly precious and effective. I also encourage you to assist, through your generosity and sensitivity, in building a society which is respectful of the vulnerable, the sick, children and the elderly. Despite your difficulties in life, you are a sign of hope. You have a place in God’s heart, you are in my prayers. I am grateful that so many of you are here, and for your warmth, joy and enthusiasm. Thank you!
As our meeting concludes, I pray once more that reason and restraint will prevail and that, with the help of the international community, Syria will rediscover the path of peace. May God change the hearts of the violent. May God change the hearts of those who seek war. May God change the hearts of those who manufacture and sell arms and may he strengthen the hearts and minds of peacemakers.
With material from VIS, Radio Vatican, Religión Digital (Spain)
